External Reference
A reference within a CAD file to geometry or parameters defined in another CAD file — common in CATIA and NX — creating a dependency that must be resolved when managing files in PLM.
Why it matters
External references create file dependency chains that must be checked in together. Breaking these references during PLM migration causes assemblies that can't be opened without manual repair.
External References
This term appears in
Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “External Reference.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/external-reference